Cuban-Americans react to talk of changes in restriction and policy

World Today

Could there be a change In U.S. policy toward Cuba? President Donald Trump is expected to outline his administration’s plans in Miami on Friday.

It could fulfill promises made on The campaign trail To rollback The Obama-Era approach.

CGTN’s Sean Callebs reports.

Cafe Versailles, in the heart of Miami’s “little Havana,” may not be the heartbeat for the Cuban-American movement in the U.S. But it is arguably its soul.

For nearly 50 years Cuban exiles have gathered on 8th street, including Cuban-American Orlando Atienta, who said he’s been visiting since he was 5 years old.

“People come here to talk politics and try to resolve the problems of the world,” Atienta said.

They watched. Nearly two years ago, then-U.S. President Barack Obama pursued, and secured, a thaw in relations with its longtime nemesis Cuba and the Castro government.

Many Cuban exiles needed convincing. Some were persuaded. Ramon Sanchez, head of the Cuban-American democracy movement, explains his change in attitude.

“The former policy did not work obviously. It did not attain what it was supposed to, which was openness and democracy for the Cuban people. President Obama attempted to change that,” Sanchez said.

Early reports from Washington indicate President Trump is vowing to keep his campaign pledge to anti-Castro hardliners in south Florida. Trump could undo two years of progress in normalizing relations

Slamming the brakes on U.S.-Cuba business deals, and once again, strictly limiting U.S travel to Havana.

Even family visits in Cuba from U.S. relatives could be in jeopardy. Guadelupe glass says she worked in the cuban sugar cane fields in the late 1960’s to save enough money to flee the country for south Florida.

“it was very sad, we didn’t have any friends we didn’t have anybody here … It was rough,” Glass said, “even though I didn’t like it in the beginning, i think it’s better to have relations, because at least the poor people that is there they can get a little more now from us from family.”

Now, she thinks trump would be making a big mistake by tightening U.S. restrictions on the island nation.